Ever since he was a young boy, Ned hated confrontation. However, confrontation seemed to like Ned, if that could be judged by the multitude of visitors to the Pie Hole, most of which were unique at best. Currently, the Pie Hole was being visited by a very mysterious stranger indeed, but Ned was in the kitchen making his Blissberry pie, so he remained blissfully unaware of this mysterious visitor. Olive, however, approached the stranger with a menu and a smile.
"Welcome to the Pie Hole!" Olive said. "Can I interest you in one of the specials today?"
Despite the steadily warming weather, the man's face was still covered by a thick woolen scarf. "No thank you," he said politely. "I was actually interested in speaking to the owner, if he happens to be here�"
"Oh, Ned's always here," Olive said, setting down the menu on the table. "Are you sure I can't get you a piece of pie while I go get him?"
"Sorry, strictly business today, honey," he said warmly. "Maybe another time."
Olive smiled at him before turning around to walk back to the kitchen. Ned was rolling out the dough for his pies, and he looked up upon hearing her enter.
"So, do they want a piece of Blissberry?" Ned asked, sprinkling more flour out on the table. "Because there's just one piece left before I bake this one."
"It's a he, not a they," Olive said, leaning on the table beside him. "And he actually just wants to talk to you."
Ned wiped his hands off on a dishtowel and peered over the pie display. "Which booth?"
Olive nudged up next to him and pointed. The mysterious visitor unwound his scarf and shrugged out of his jacket. Ned gasped.
"Tell him to leave!" he whispered urgently.
"What? Why?"
The stranger waved at him, an odd grin spreading across his face.
Ned ducked behind the display, and although Olive was very short anyway, she followed suit.
"That's my father." he said.
Indeed, confrontation seemed to love the Piemaker.
A/N: Ahh, a cliffhanger! But, just a teaser, there will be discussion of the actual cliff-hanging in "The Norwegians" either in next chapter or Chapter 4.
